Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in the summer holidays.

What is the value of long school holidays?

What are the arguments in favour of shorter school holidays?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

These days some people seem to argue that the secondary and primary schools close for two months every year around the world. On the other hand, In some countries schools close for a shorter period of time. However, There are several benefits of longer summer holidays and problems for shorter holidays period. There are certain reason of my opinion which i wish to highlight in the essay.

In the first place, it would be quite interesting to note that longer period of holidays provide children to spend more time with their beloved parents. It helps them to forget and release their educational stress for several days and enjoy holidays in various gaming activities. One illustration for this is that, playing physical and video games assists them to refresh their mind. Another major advantage of this side the topic seem to be that, Parents can plan a domestic or international trip with children to visit their relatives. It is also beneficial for kids to boost and regain energy for the rest of school syllabus. For Instance, it works for kids because they can now focus completely on their school study.

Whereas, shorter vacations doesn't fully support to school children because kids cannot be able to complete given homework and assignment on shorter holidays and eventually it effects their grades and study. For example, if school learners grades will harm. It does problematic for them to qualify for next course.

In Conclusion, I am convinced to believe that it is indeed a debatable issue which need further analysis and discussion. However, in the light of above-discussed argument and examples it would be quite safe to conclude that advantages of longer school vacations outweigh the advantages of short school holidays in many aspects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding homework in the third paragraph is unclear and lacks logical depth, as it assumes shorter holidays automatically lead to academic failure without explaining the underlying reasons. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments are repetitive and lack specific, well-developed examples. To reach a higher band, you should provide more detailed explanations and ensure that the connection between the arguments and the prompt is more explicit and logically sound.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Whereas, shorter vacations...' is used incorrectly as a sentence starter, and the phrase 'Another major advantage of this side the topic' is awkward and confusing. While there is a logical progression of ideas, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional misuse of referencing make the flow feel somewhat disjointed. Improving the variety and accuracy of your cohesive devices will help the reader follow your arguments more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'various gaming activities' and 'refresh their mind'. There are also instances of awkward collocation, such as 'effects their grades' (should be 'affects') and 'It does problematic'. While the meaning is generally clear, the limited range of vocabulary and the recurring errors in word choice prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'shorter vacations doesn't'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'kids cannot be able to'), and punctuation errors, such as unnecessary capitalisation after commas. While the meaning is usually understandable, the frequency of these errors is high. To improve, you should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs, before attempting more complex structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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